Blue Mass Group

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Can Curt Schilling Save the Mass. Republican Party?

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  • He brings instant name recognition and popularity. Everyone in Massachusetts knows who Curt Schilling is, and they probably have a generally positive view of him. The old joke is that a member of the 2004 Red Sox will never have to buy a drink in Massachusetts. That level of built in support would go a long way. Instead of volunteers running around in orange jumpsuits, he’ll have his supporters wearing “bloody socks.” In a strange way, that would be endearing.

  • He will have no problem raising money. See above. Not only does he have quite a bit of his own money if he needed to tap into it, but he would be able to raise lots of money in both Massachusetts and across the country based on his star power alone. And don’t think that national Republicans will forget his support of Bush. He’d instantly have as much money to run as he needs.

  • He can campaign as a true outsider. Because he won’t have a voting record on issues, he will be able to define himself. If I had to guess, I’d imagine him as a strong-defense, low-tax, social libertarian…the only type of Republican that could be successful in Massachusetts. But even if he’s not, he’ll have the ability to let voters know who he is, and not have to worry about having a trail of votes that can be twisted and used against him.

  • He can campaign as a local businessman. Just last week, the Boston Business Journal reported that Schilling had rented space in Maynard to house his start-up video game business. Schilling will be able to say that he has “created jobs in Massachusetts,” that he “understands the needs of small business,” etc. etc.

  • He has a TV presence. Not every athlete is comfortable with the cameras, but Schilling certainly is. In fact, some of us who follow the Red Sox think he’s too much of a publicity hog: always on TV, calls WEEI to vent about this or that issue, frequents internet message boards (I’m one of those who wishes he’d just shut up and pitch). In any event, he is a skilled commentator and would be a media darling.

  • There is no one else. Quick, name a Massachusetts Republican. Mitt Romney‘s running for president, so he’s out. Kerry Healey? Her only chance would be if Deval Patrick failed miserably right out of the gate and people began wondering if she weren’t so bad after all. Paul Cellucci might be a possibility I suppose, but his ties to President Bush are so strong that he might have difficulty here, not to mention that he saddled us with two years of Jane Swift (uh, no). Wayne Budd was Deval Patrick before Deval Patrick. Former Suffolk County DA Ralph Martin, perhaps? Do any of those names inspire you?

    • All of this speculation is based on one huge assumption: John Kerry will run for President and the seat will be an open seat. If Kerry stays on, I’d guess that he will not face any real opposition. But if he goes, there will be a huge fight for the first senate opening in 24 years. I wouldn’t be surprised if Curt Schilling is part of the mix. It might be the Republicans’ only chance.

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    3. How does being a sports personality qualify you to be a senator? Likewise I don’t expect he will stay in state after his contract is up. He will retire to some place that has more favorable tax laws for multimillionaire former pro ball players.

      • …but that didn’t stop people from voting for Jack Kemp, Jim Bunning, Steve Largent, JC Watts, Tom Osborne, Bill Bradley, Gerald Ford, George Allen Jr., Connie Mack Jr., just to name a few off the top of my head.

      • Former Redskins QB Heath Shuler just won a North Carolina House seat as a conservative Democrat.  More information from Stop Shuler, a site dedicated to keeping him out of Washington solely because the Redskins “are better off since Heath left town, and we don’t want him back.”

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        p>  – Dan

      • It doesn’t qualify you to be a senator, but it qualifies you for the essential media access.  You need money to run, and name recognition is a huge asset.  Campaign finance reform, anyone?

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    5. I’d see Curt Schilling running if John Kerry doesn’t run for president and runs for re-election instead, but otherwise I think they’d rather run someone more qualified (in a race with lesser known Dems than John Kerry). I see Charlie Baker running against Patrick in 2010, or maybe for Kerry’s seat in 2008 if he steps down.

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      Who else? Maybe Chris Egan? Dick Egan? another Egan? Ralph Martin’s no longer a Republican and endorsed Deval Patrick, so probably unlikely as an R.

    6. And you think I’m kidding.  Not now, but 15-20 years from now, watch out.  By all accounts, he’s popular, smart, likable…and a Republican.

      • As dumb as he is (and let’s all be honest, he’s as dumb as bag of rocks)… I think I’d be seduced by him! He’s just so cute and nice and…… aww shucks.

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        (Just kidding, I probably wouldn’t vote for him. However, while he’s probably a Republican – after all, he did go with Laura Bush to a State of the Union – we don’t know much about him on the issues. And we don’t even really know whether or not he is a Republican.)

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        On Curt, I actually bet someday he will run for something… but probably not in Massachusetts.

          • He should start with step #1 and actually begin to vote.

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            Then register Dem.

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            With a few years, if he helps move the infrustructure, I’d definitely consider voting for him. He is as dumb as rocks, but at least he has some intellectual curiousity – something the current dumb-as-rocks President lacks.

        • As dumb as he is (and let’s all be honest, he’s as dumb as bag of rocks)

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          I’m guessing you’re not a football fan, because otherwise you wouldn’t be so dumb as to say that Tom Brady was dumb just because he plays football.

          • My Dad played professional football for 7 years and graduated from Holy Cross, now has an MBA. I certainly don’t think he’s dumb. In fact, he’s pretty darn bright – despite the fact he was a big ‘ol lineman. Furthermore, I played football and other athletics for years and years – yet, I’d say I’m not a big dummy.

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            The reason I think Tom Brady is dumb as a bag of rocks is because I’ve listened to him on more than one occasion on issues other than football. I don’t think it’s a matter of intelligence; I’m sure he’s capable of learning. Hence, I said he doesn’t lack intellectual curiousity.

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            A good example is from the article that was linked to me from the Boston Globe. In it, Tom Brady openly admitted he was ignorant on most topics concerning politics and things of national importance. To Robert Kraft, he was “asking questions,” which is always a good thing. Yet, if he didn’t know much about cutting taxes and Iraq policy, he just doesn’t know much. It’s not his profession, so I didn’t hold it against him (in fact, I even laid out a case in which I’d vote for him).

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            Way to read too much into my statement.

            • but I saw Tom Brady on SNL a few seasons back and he was hella funny.  The sexual harassment skit alone was worth staying up late for.

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              Yep.  That’s all I got. 🙂

              • Yep.  That’s all I got. 🙂

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                For a minute there, I was fearing for my sanity.  Afearin’ I tell ya.  Right at the brink. 

    7. Head of the MBTA. He got high marks for his work at the RMV as well as the Transportation Department. Pretty sure he’s gay, for whatever that’s worth. I’m surprised I haven’t heard his name mentioned more often, he has a lot of potential as a very popular Republican IMHO.

      • Good guy, did great work at RMV.  He now has a very hard job (head of the MBTA), and his political future depends on how he does there.

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        (He is gay, by the way — has been publicly out for a long time.)

        • Bruce Herzfelter.  And Ellen Roy Herzfelter, Sec. of Enviornmental Affairs.  And Jennifer Davis Carey, head of Elder Affairs and a woman of color, and Beth Lindstrom of consumer Affairs, and Nancy Luther of Highway.

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          One thing Mitt did was give a LOT of smart GOP women responsibility – and they make good candidates.

    9. And several others. Mihos could even switch to Republican.

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      Personally, Charley Baker scares me in any election – be it Governor or Senate – however, he’s always been afraid to run. So I hope he continues to be afriad. LOL.

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      Let him sit at the Swampscott Selectman committee, Board of Ed or wherever else he feels like serving… and hope he never runs for anything other than small fries.

      • but Charley Baker, OTOH, has the resume, the smarts, and the accomplishments to be a strong candidate. Now, that he doesn’t have Romney freezing him out for Kerry Healey, he can undertake a race on a normal schedule. If he plays the nasty, Republican campaign game of negativity all the way, then he’ll lose to an experienced Deval Patrick, running for reelection.

        • It would certainly be an uphill battle. However, I don’t think the average voter would link him to Bush like they would Condi, Rumsfeld or Cheney. In fact, most people in Massachusetts probably don’t know who Andy Card is. Yet, he could probably get a lot of institutional support for a run if he so chose – he certainly could fundraise money because of his connections, maybe even more so than Baker (though, that’s debateable).

    10. No wonder the Republican party is dead in Mass if this is the most brilliant idea someone can come up with. 

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      Could you just imagine the first debate against someone like Ed Markey or Jim McGovern?

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      But thanks for the laugh. That was great!

    11. When his contact is up, assuming that he doesn’t sign an extension, he will be out of here, probably someplace, that wears its family values on its sleeve, and where it’s warm so he can golf year ’round.

    12. The primary doesn’t move months based on what year it is!

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      MA holds Presidential primaries in March, but the actual primary for ALL elections other than President is still in September.

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      Doesn’t change your point though.

    13. This just begs for Mr. Black’s elegant treatment:

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      Can Curt Schilling Save the Mass. Republican Party?

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      No.

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      This has been another edition of simple answers to simple questions.

      • Could run as an indy or conservative, built in name recognition, personal funds, and he’ll eventually need to retire from coaching, good strategic thinker, etc.

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        Hed be more likely than Brady or Schilling in the immediate future, though expect Brady in the long run to consider it.

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        Personally its going to be Edward Sullivan as the sacrificial lamb against Deval in 2010, and perhaps Mihos for Senator in 06 but he didnt pick up double digits and the Republicans are likely resentful of his prescence though perhaps they will be desperate enough to go for it.

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